What do we know about rheumatoid arthritis patients' support needs for self-management? A scoping review

Self-management support is essential to perform self-management behavior. To provide this support in an effective way, insight in the needs for self-management support is necessary.

To give an overview of self-management support needs from the perspective of rheumatoid arthritis patients to help nurses to improve self-management.

We conducted a scoping review for the period of January 2002 to May 2013 using the following inclusion criteria: (1) studies on adult patients aged 18 years and older, (2) studies from the perspective of rheumatoid arthritis patients, (3) studies reporting results on support needs, and (4) empirical studies using any design.

We searched in PubMed, CINAHL, and PsycINFO.

Following the steps of a scoping review, we (1) identified the research question, (2) identified relevant studies, (3) selected studies, (4) charted the data, and (5) collated, summarized, and reported results. We incorporated the optional sixth step of consultation of a multidisciplinary panel of professionals and patients to validate our findings.

Seventeen articles were included. Our review shows that rheumatoid arthritis patients have informational, emotional, social and practical support needs. We found an information need for various topics, e.g. exercises and medication. Patients express a need for emotional support in daily life, given through other RA patients, colleagues and supervisors and nurses. For information needs, emotional and social support it is important that it is tailored to the individual needs of the patient.

The most important support needs for self-management mentioned by rheumatoid arthritis patients are more informational, social and practical support and emotional support. Considering patients' perspective as a starting point for delivering support for self-management can lead to the development of nursing interventions tailored to the needs of rheumatoid arthritis patients.